Professional Wrestling Icon Bill Goldberg is the first announced inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2018. Announced during Monday's episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, Goldberg will join a long illustrious list of icons in sports-entertainment. The 2018 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will take place on Friday, April 6th during Wrestlemania XXXIV week in New Orleans Louisiana.
“Goldberg’s unique athleticism, persona and intensity captured the imagination of sports entertainment fans around the world throughout his illustrious career,” said Paul Levesque, WWE Executive Vice President, Talent, Live Events & Creative in the release from WWE. “We are honored to have Goldberg take his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame.”
His career began on June 23rd, 1997 against Buddy Lee Parker in a Dark Match before Monday Night Nitro. His television debut came in the September 22nd edition of Monday Night Nitro where he'd defeat Hugh Morrus. The victory would set the stage for a monumental 173-day undefeated streak. Along the path of that undefeated streak, Goldberg defeated Raven for his first championship in professional wrestling but that wouldn't be the only title Goldberg would claim during his reign of dominance.
On the July 6th, 1998 episode of Monday Night Nitro, fittingly in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Georgia, Goldberg defeated Hulk Hogan to win the WCW World Heavyweight Champion. At WCW Starrcade later that year the undefeated streak would come to an end as Kevin Nash would defeat him, after interference from Scott Hall who was disguised as a security guard used a stun gun.
Goldberg continued with the company until it was sold to the WWE in 2001. It was only time before Goldberg made the move to WWE and on March 31st, 2003 he'd make his debut interrupting The Rock during his appreciation night speech. The night would end with The Rock receiving a spear from Goldberg beginning the feud. Goldberg would defeat The Rock at Backlash and would set his sites on gold. Goldberg would go on to battle with Triple-H for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and at Unforgiven when his career was on the line, Goldberg earned his first championship in the WWE.
During the championship match at Armageddon on December 14, Evolution and Kane would interfere during that match and chokeslam Goldberg ultimately handing Triple-H the victory and World Heavyweight Championship.
Goldberg would be on the verge of winning the 2004 Royal Rumble Match until Brock Lesner interfered in the match delivering an F-5 to Goldberg. Kurt Angle would then throw him over the ropes eliminating him. In No Way Out a few weeks later, Goldberg would show up as a fan to watch Eddie Guerrero face Lesner. Goldberg would cost Lesner his title ultimately setting up the Brock Lesner vs. Goldberg match at Wrestlemania XX with Stone Cold Steve Austin as the special guest referee. Goldberg would win the match and walk away from the company after just one year.
On the October 31st, 2016 Goldberg would make his return to the WWE where he'd accept the challenge from Brock Lesner for a match at Survivor Series. He would defeat Lesner in just one minute and twenty-six seconds but the feud wouldn't be over there, it would just be put to the side. Goldberg would face and defeat Kevin Owens for the WWE Universal Championship, his first championship victory since the 84 day WWE World Heavyweight title reign back in 2003. At Wrestlemania XXXIII, the re-match 13 years in the making. Despite hitting four spears and a Jackhammer it wasn't enough to repeat the result from Wrestlemania XX as Lesner would win the Universal Title from Goldberg.
With a career like that, its fitting that Goldberg will enter the WWE Hall of Fame this year. You can get your tickets for the 2018 WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony this Friday on Ticketmaster. (Koelle,2018)
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